Serbian academy chief warns of possible conflicts

The head of the Serbian Academy of Science and Arts (SANU) warned of possible conflicts if social communication is not established soon.

SANU President Vladimir Kostic wrote in an opinion piece for NIN weekly magazine that Serbia has become a divided society along a number of lines and is facing conflicts because of intolerance and aggression.

“The Serbs persistently invested their energy into the idea of a political messiah instead of building institutions and a system,” he wrote.

Kostic warned that “Serbia has become an immobile society without ideas for the future but with a lot of agression between individuals from various social groups”. “Us and them, their and ours, first and second Serbia – all around us we have traitors, mercenaries, nationalist criminals, Soros supporters, spies, cleric-fascists, sell outs, commies,” he wrote.

According to the SANU president, the “tabloidization of the media” helps maintain that atmosphere of opposition and rivalry. “A certain toxicity is added to the atmosphere by reactions on social media with a frequently violent and malicious language,” he added.

Kostic believes that the divisions and hatred can only be resolved by a responsible public in a stable society. “A responsible citizen is not pleasant but is necessary for all authorities,” he wrote, adding that the statement that rivals should win power before expressing their dissatisfaction is completely inappropriate.